http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=124&objectid=10418949

NZ Herald
January 13 2007; 05:00

Zimbabwean girl sexually attacked before death
by Jarrod Booker

Charlene Makaza

The Zimbabwean girl believed to have been suffocated in her bed was sexually assaulted by her killer, the Weekend Herald has learned.

Injuries on the body of Charlene Makaza, 10, were consistent with a sexual attack, sources say, although police are refusing to say whether a sexual assault took place.

The Herald has been told that the person believed responsible for her death also carried out the assault.

No one has been charged in relation to Charlene's death.

Detectives have been making inquiries with Charlene's extended family and members of the local Zimbabwean community although they say they have no suspects.

They have now completed examining the house where Charlene was found in her bed unconscious and having difficulty breathing last Saturday. Doctors were unable to revive her and she died about 1am on Sunday without regaining consciousness.

Hospital authorities notified police, and an autopsy indicated Charlene had been suffocated.

Homicide investigation head Detective Inspector Malcolm Johnston said police had completed their examination of the Hollyford Ave, Bryndwr, house where Charlene lived with her aunt, uncle, 12-year-old sister and two cousins aged 20 and 24.

Mr Johnston repeated that there was no evidence of an intruder having entered the two-storey weatherboard house.

Police had "no specific suspects at this stage" and were continuing to interview family members who were in the house when Charlene was found.

Forensic test results from a second autopsy were not expected to be available "before the end of next week at the earliest", he said.

Mr Johnston refused to say if the involvement of a family lawyer had complicated matters for police.

Mr Johnston said police were "mindful of the trauma and stress" Charlene's family was going through during the investigation.

Police said earlier the family had been co-operating fully with the investigation, and police had a "very good rapport" with them.

Christchurch lawyer Susan Lewis said she was acting for the family. But she refused to discuss the family or the case.

She said the family did not wish to make any comment.

South Island Zimbabwe Association chairman Hylton Chaza told NZPA he believed both families involved in the police investigation into Charlene's death were coping "reasonably well".

Charlene and her sister emigrated from Zimbabwe about two years ago to join their adoptive family in Christchurch after the death of their parents.

Mr Chaza acknowledged the families were under a lot of pressure.

He said he understood police had not yet released Charlene's body for a funeral.

The possibility of Charlene's body being returned to Zimbabwe for burial had yet to be confirmed.

Mr Chaza said he knew the families only as members of the local Zimbabwe community, but had been dealing with them recently during the homicide investigation.

Those who knew Charlene in Christchurch have described her as being a cheerful, happy child, who loved the Kiwi way of life.

"She was very loving. She had a very good heart," relative Irvine Kombora told the Herald this week.

Despite some teasing because she was different, Charlene enjoyed her time at Christchurch's Wairakei School, where she played netball, sung in the choir and enjoyed long chats with the teachers.

She enjoyed it so much in New Zealand that she told people she never wanted to go back to Zimbabwe, Mr Kombora said.

Mr Chaza said: "Most Zimbabweans come looking for a better life. And most of of our people are very happy with the situation here".